Trauma!

'TRAUMA'

Imagine being 12 years old, trying to open a bank account and getting handcuffed for your efforts. What would you be thinking? What would be feeling? The young girl and her grandfather who were unjustly handcuffed at the Bank of Montreal are experiencing trauma.

"The 12-year-old Indigenous girl who was handcuffed and then detained for 45 minutes by the Vancouver Police Department on a downtown street Dec. 20 after trying to open an account at the Bank of Montreal says she doesn't even want to think about what happened anymore."

"Police detained the two after a BMO employee called 911. The employee had difficulty validating their identification — government-issued Indian Status cards — according to Cameron Fowler, president of personal banking, BMO Financial Group. The bank has apologized, and the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner is now investigating the police department's detention and restraining of the pair. Tori-Anne and her grandfather are now fearful of police and of banks, but in particular of the Bank of Montreal, even just driving past it, he said. Both Johnson and his granddaughter live in the Heiltsuk community of Bella Bella, located on B.C's Central Coast. The Heiltsuk Tribal Council Chief Marilyn Slett says she was shocked to hear about what happened."

This is deeply upsetting for them and the entire country. Common sense, compassion and curiosity.

I am curious as to the policy of the BMO in dealing with identification (identification that may be different) in opening an account and is calling the police, arresting potential clients a standard practice? Do they not ask anyone else in the bank for assistance? Is arresting , restraining the first option for the police without asking any questions?

Thankfully people are taking notice and speaking up. Sometimes the only way to change behaviours is to have the business, individuals held accountable. Would additional training be required? In the interest of avoiding further complaints for the police Chief, the President of BMO and the rest of Canada, I would say yes!

A 12-year-old girl and her grandfather are speaking out about being handcuffed on a busy downtown Vancouver street after being falsely accused of a fraud.